The historic town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania is a popular place to visit in the Pocono Mountains. The town is home to historic attractions, unique inns, shops, and restaurants. Visit the Asa Packer Mansion Museum, the Old Jail Museum and the Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary. Here are the best things to do in Jim Thorpe, PA. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.
1.Asa Packer Mansion Museum
This Asa Packer Mansion Museum is located in the home of Asa Packer, a philanthropist, railroad businessman, and founder of Lehigh University. Architect Samuel Sloan built the three-story, 18-bedroom mansion in 1861. The mansion has been open to the public for tours since the Bear Mountain Lions purchased it in 1956. The inside of the mansion appears almost exactly as it did when the Packer family occupied the home in the late 1800s. Visitors can tour the mansion from Memorial Day to Halloween. After that time period, tour availability varies depending on the season.
PO Box 108, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229, 570-325-3229
2.Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Guests can get a taste of historic train travel by visiting the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. A 70-minute narrated tour on a diesel engine train leads visitors over span bridges and through the Lehigh Gorge State Park during which they can admire tranquil mountain scenery, dramatic cliffs, and a variety of wildlife while traveling along the historic railway. All of the trains are family-friendly, pet friendly, and wheelchair accessible. Special train rides through the Lehigh Gorge for holidays and festivals are also available.
1 Susquehanna St., Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 610-562-2102
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3.Old Jail Museum, Jim Thorpe, PA
The Old Jail Museum is a two-story stone structure that was built in the late 1800s. True to its name, the museum served as a jail for Jim Thorpe and surrounding communities through 1980. There are 27 cells inside of the jail, as well as rooms in the basement for solitary confinement. The jail is best known for the Molly Maguire trials, which ended with seven Irish coal miners being hanged from gallows. Today guests can tour the Old Jail Museum and see where one of the condemned Irishman placed his hand on the jail wall as a proclamation of his innocence.
128 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 570-325-5259
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4.Harry Packer Mansion
The Harry Packer Mansion is a bed and breakfast that sits on Packer Hill, an area overlooking Jim Thorpe. The mansion may look familiar to Disneyworld visitors since the home was the inspiration for the theme park's Haunted Mansion attraction. With 15-foot ceilings, marble fireplaces, and luxurious furniture, this mansion is a popular spot for self-guided tours. The Libations Lounge, a built-in bar, is the perfect spot to have a drink while enjoying views of the town below. The Jim Thorpe community holds regular events at the mansion, including murder mystery dinners and wine tastings. The mansion is available to rent for private events as well. Nightly bed and breakfast room rates start at $175.
19 Packer Avenue, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 570-325-8566
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5.Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary
The Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary is a prime spot for family outings and field trips. In addition to butterflies, the sanctuary is home to a variety of frogs and fish. The sanctuary has an education center and art room for children, along with a nature gift shop. In the Flutterarium, visitors can observe butterflies and learn how to hand-feed them. The sanctuary is also available as a space for birthday parties, and the establishment offers an entire birthday package that includes balloons, crafts, goody bags, and butterfly hatching kits. Next read: water parks in PA
18 Church Road, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 570-325-4848
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6.The Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe, PA
A trip to the Mauch Chunk Opera House gives visitors and locals a taste of Jim Thorpe's unique culture. This lively arts center constantly hosts performances and exhibits for people of all ages. Local artists and musicians from nearby communities put on the majority of shows at the opera house. Guests can also take tours of the Mauch Chunk Opera House during which they will learn about the history of the spacious performance hall. A historical exhibit and an art gallery featuring works by Jim Thorpe artists are also part of the tour.
14 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 570-325-0249
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7.Mauch Chunk Museum, Jim Thorpe, PA
This museum tells the story of Mauch Chunk, the coal-mining town that preceded Jim Thorpe.
The main exhibit focuses on the Lenape Indians, the discovery of coal in the Jim Thrope area, the industrialization of Mauch Chunk, the Switchback Gravity Railroad, and Mauch Chunk's transformation into modern-day Jim Thorpe.
Geological history is another topic that is covered through the museum's exhibits. The second floor of the Mauch Chunk museum has a ballroom that is available for special events, including weddings, parties, and corporate get-togethers.
41 W Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 570-325-9190
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8.DeFeo's Manor, Jim Thorpe, PA
The DeFeo Manor dates back to 1880. Now a small bed and breakfast, the manor provides guests with easy access to all of Jim Thorpe's downtown museums, shops, and restaurants.
The manor has rooms for singles as well as couples, and their suite with a built-in fireplace, Victorian furniture, and a private bathroom is the manor's largest room. Three other rooms, the blue room, the art deco room, and the Arizona room, are available at the DeFeo Manor. Each room provides guests with beautiful views of Jim Thorpe and the surrounding Pocono Mountains. Rooms start at $125 per night.
5 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 570-325-8777
9.Pocono Whitewater
Pocono Whitewater is an adventure company that organizes exciting river rafting trips for the whole family. The company offers two whitewater rafting trips on the Lehigh River Gorge. The first trip, Dam Release Whitewater, is a 12-mile-long rafting adventure that includes sections of Class III rapids. The other trip, Family Style Whitewater, is a shorter expedition through smaller rapids. Moonlight rafting and pirate rafting are also favorites among Pocono Whitewater customers. In addition to rafting, the company offers biking and paintball adventures, and Pocono Whitewater also has tour packages for all-inclusive trips to Belize.
1519 State Route 903, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 570-325-3655
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10.Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz
Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz gives people an opportunity to whiz through the Pocono Mountains on a vintage BMW sidecar. Barb Timberz and Ed Fink, two locals who know the best spots to visit in Jim Thorpe and the Poconos, lead the tours. Gorgeous mountain views are the main benefit of these exciting rides. Guests can choose between a 1.5-hour tour or a 4 hour tour. Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz provides riders with eye gear and a helmet to keep riders as safe as possible. Once the tour ends, riders can pick up unique merchandise from the Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz shop.
Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz, 570-249-1570
11.Jim Thorpe River Adventures
Jim Thorpe River Adventures runs whitewater-rafting trips on the Lehigh River Gorge for people of all ages and skill levels. Intro to Whitewater Rafting and Easywater Rafting are their basic trips for beginners. Both of these trips are 3-4 hours long and include several sections of class I and II rapids. Adventurous rafters can join the Big Time Whitewater Rafting trip, which includes stretches of canyon paddling and class II and III rapids. Aside from its rafting trips, Jim Thorpe River Adventures rents out inflatable kayaks and mountain bikes.
1 Adventure Lane, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, 570-325-2570
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11 Best Things to Do in Jim Thorpe in the Poconos, Pennsylvania
- Asa Packer Mansion Museum, Photo: Courtesy of jonbilous - Fotolia.com
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Photo: Courtesy of jonbilous - Fotolia.com
- Old Jail Museum, Jim Thorpe, PA, Photo: Courtesy of Nomad_Soul - Fotolia.com
- Harry Packer Mansion, Photo: Harry Packer Mansion
- Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary, Photo: Courtesy of Dave - Fotolia.com
- The Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe, PA, Photo: Courtesy of eugenesergeev - Fotolia.com
- Mauch Chunk Museum, Jim Thorpe, PA, Photo: Mauch Chunk Museum
- DeFeo's Manor, Jim Thorpe, PA, Photo: DeFeo's Manor
- Pocono Whitewater, Photo: Courtesy of Alexey Achepovsky - Fotolia.com
- Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz, Photo: Courtesy of dmitrimaruta - Fotolia.com
- Jim Thorpe River Adventures, Photo: Courtesy of Alex Green - Fotolia.com
- Cover Photo: Courtesy of AardLumens - Fotolia.com
Attraction Spotlight: Harry Packer Mansion
Located in Jim Thorpe, PA, the Harry Packer Mansion is a historic landmark that “blends old world opulence with modern day convenience”. The Mansion is mostly popular for their Murder Mystery Weekends.
In 1874, founder of Lehigh University and the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Asa Packer built the Harry Packer Mansion for his son Harry. The Mansion was Asa’s wedding gift to Harry and his new wife. Six years later, Harry hired Addison Hutton to renovate a few sections of the Mansion. Together, the Harry and the Quaker architect expanded the Mansion by building a study wind and a front veranda. The front veranda is one of the most recognizable features of the Mansion, as it is made out of blue stone from New York, tile, and a mahogany ceiling (all of which still stands today).
In 1983, Robert and Patricia Handwerk purchased the Harry Packer Mansion. When the Handwerks purchased the Mansion, only the first level had electricity, the house had no plumbing or heat, and the roof appeared to be crumbling. With hard work and dedication, the Handwerks were able to restore the beauty of the Harry Packer Mansion.
Today, the Mansion operates under the Handwerk family of Pat and Bob, their son Taylor, and his wife Kristen. Thanks to Taylor and Kristen, the Mansion has expanded from a typical bed & breakfast to an added Libations Lounge, which serves a fine variety of alcohol.
Guests can choose to stay in either the Mansion or the Carriage House. It’s important to note that since the establishment is historic, children are not allowed and smoking is strictly prohibited. Rooms inside the Mansion include:
· Queen size beds
· Private bathrooms
· Egyptian cotton sheets with 700 thread count
· Air conditioning
· Free WiFi
As for the Carriage House, Asa Packer originally built this facility in 1861 as a place to service the Mansion. It is 50 feet away from the Mansion, and is decorated like a classic hunting lodge. Currently, there are six guest rooms in the Carriage House. Anyone who stays in the Carriage House also has access to the Mansion. Each room within the Carriage House includes:
· Queen size beds
· Private bathrooms
· Free WiFi
· Access to a communal Keurig coffee maker
Aside from the Mansion and Carriage House being attractions within themselves, guests are welcome to hang out in the Libations Lounge. The Libations Lounge offers a selection of fine spirits, beer, and wine inside a Victorian setting.
Aside from the Libations Lounge, many people visit the Harry Packer Mansion to participate in one of the Murder Mystery Weekends. Murder Mystery Weekends occur almost every weekend from Friday through Sunday. The storyline of the Murder Mystery is a combination of reality and fiction. While detailed information is unavailable, what is known is the Packer fortune is involved in the plot.
Each Murder Mystery Weekend is offered for 11 couples. Larger groups are encouraged to participate in Murder Mysteries throughout the midweek. For larger groups, individuals can volunteers to act as certain characters, and others can work in teams. It’s important to note that the price of rooms are different for Murder Mystery nights.
For more information about the Libations Lounge, Murder Mystery Weekend, or any other attraction at the Harry Packer Mansion, visit the Mansion’s official website.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Harry Packer Mansion, but you don’t want to spend the night there, you could always take a self-guided tour. A self-guided tour has an admission per person, and allows participants to explore almost every nook and cranny of the Mansion. It’s important to note that the second floor is only accessible when there are no guests. If the second floor happens to be closed, the tour fee will be cut in half.
If you’re interested in learning about wine, what the difference between “good” and “bad” wine is, anything else wine related, then take one of the Harry Packer Mansion’s wine classes. Each wine class teaches a group of six or more about the basics of wine, how to decipher and understand a wine’s label, information about pairing wines, and how to evaluate the taste and quality of a wine.
The Harry Packer Mansion hosts a combination of public and special events throughout the year such as First Friday Wine Tastings where guests can enjoy appetizers and wine in The Lounge and New Year’s Eve special events. Private events and parties may also be booked through the event staff at the mansion.
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19 Packer Ave. Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, 18229, Phone: 570-325-8566
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Attraction Spotlight: The Old Jail Museum
Located in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, the Old Jail Museum was used as a jailhouse during the late 1800s. Guided tours occur on a daily basis from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. During September and October, the Old Jail Museum is only open during the weekends.
Tom McBride and his wife Betty Lou purchased the Old Jail Museum in 1995. The Old Jail Museum has a dense history, most of which is unpleasant. Most notably, the Old Jail Museum was the site of the Molly Maguires hanging in 1800s. Known as the Day of the Rope, which was June 21, 1877, Alexander Campbell, Edward Kelly, Michael Doyle, and John Donohue, who were Irish coal miners, were hung. On March 28, 1878, another Irish coal miner named Thomas P. Fisher was hung. Then, on January 14, 1879, two more Irish coal miners named James McDonnell and Charles Sharp were hung.
These trials, known as the Molly Maguires are known as one of the first examples of the surrender of state sovereignty. While the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided the courtroom and gallows, a private corporation led the investigation alongside a private detective agency and a private police force. Private attorneys were also used.
It’s important to note that prior to the men being hung, many proclaimed that they were innocent. Today, many historians believe that some of the men who were hung were falsely accused and actually innocent.
The Old Jail Museum itself is the only attraction at the Museum. The Old Jail Museum consists of:
· Approximately 72 rooms.
· 27 cells,
· Basement dungeon cells.
· Warden’s apartment which includes a living room, dining room, sitting room, and two bedrooms.
· Kitchen for the warden and their family, as well as the prisoners.
One of the only educational opportunities at the Old Jail Museum are the guided tours.
Visitors also have the option of participating in a group tour. Group tours are available on specific weekday dates from May through October, as well as any weekends throughout the season except October. It’s important to note that group tours require a minimum of 20 people.
Aside from regular guided tours, visitors can take a ghost tour. According to the Old Jail Museum’s website, the ghosts at the Old Jail Museum are friendly and often make themselves known to people who are not specifically looking for them. Since the Old Jail Museum is currently closed for the winter season, they have not released their ghost tour dates for the 2017 season. If you’re interested in taking a ghost tour, make sure to check the Old Jail Museum’s official website on a regular basis.
After exploring the Old Jail Museum, make sure to shop on their online Gift Shop. The Old Jail Museum’s online Gift Shop sells a variety of souvenirs, such as books, DVDs, sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweatpants, and drinkware. All of the online Gift Shop’s orders are processed through Peggy’s Treasure Shop.
For more information about the souvenirs sold at the Old Jail Museum’s gift shop and Peggy’s Treasure Shop, visit the Old Jail Museum’s official gift shop website.
The Old Jail Museum is located on 128 W Broadway, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229. If you’re unfamiliar with the Jim Thorpe area, the Old Jail Museum is located in the historic downtown area of Jim Thorpe. It’s important to note that the Old Jail Museum only has a small parking lot, so most people park at a parking meter or in the County Parking Lot, which is located on Route 209.
In order to specifically get to the Old Jail Museum, you can easily walk from a parking meter or the County Parking Lot. All you have to do is walk up Broadway. The Old Jail Museum is located five blocks away from the Court House that has a clock. The Old Jail Museum provides visitors with an online map. Also, the Old Jail Museum states on their website that visitors are free to give them a call in case they get lost.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania is a rustic town settled between east coast mountains and the Lehigh River making for gorgeous scenery and transporting you back in time. The downtown area is home to locally shops that have been restored to their grand Victorian architecture and style. There are many antique and specialty shops, eateries and cafes all within walking distance of The Old Jail House Museum. You can even take walking ghost tours of the town and visit some of the old coal mines while you are in town.
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128 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229, Phone: 570-325-5259
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